14 
one ^ (k e. ivester'l^ ^ 
the^ settlement on t^^ide ~ofthe Island. To bring do?m the 
narrow-gauge cars loaded with the phosphate rock an 
inclined railway,. with two platforms, counter balancing one 
another in ascent and descent, had to be installed. To facilitate 
loading the freighters lying off shore because of close-in reefs. 
these cars 
are run out on_3n impressive. 
cantileve^.^^el structure extendii^^ut to sea beyond the new 
fringing reef^growing up about the island. 
Some of us spent a few hours in the morning obtaining 
d 
representation of the marine life to be found on this relatively 
L/P 
narro?;, shelf -like reef. Latery^all rode up to the top of 
the island on the inclined railway. This island is said to have 
been a burial place for Polynesian chiefs years ago. Their 
remains are supposed to be hidden in the numerous caves honeycombing 
the cliffs. Human bones have been uncovered also in the course of 
the mining operations. To obtain some of these v/as one of the 
reasons for stopping here. That ?/e ?;ere fortunate in our quest 
was due to the personal interest of the resident physician. Dr. 
Francel Roques. He told us that as long as a team of French 
anthropologists had been here a few years ago, we might have some 
of the skeletal material they had left behind. We picked out a 
few of the better preserved long bones and a skull, the more 
complete of several partially fractured ones. Naturally y/e regretted 
that there was no opportunity to explore the reputed burial caves. 
/njkHselw 
Dr. Roques/is aiiitg_an_authorlty on beetles, and has with him 
.e /collect! 
in large part during his previous tour of duty in North Africa. 
